Think tank and advocacy org the World Economic Forum has predicted strong growth in jobs that AI can’t replace, plus big demand for skills to automate those that can.
The org (WEF) this week dropped its annual Future of Jobs report [PDF], which is based on a survey of over 1,000 employers who collectively represent 14 million-plus workers across 22 industry clusters and 55 economies.
The report also has good news for those in roles that are hard for computers to replace, in the form of a prediction that fastest growth in job volumes will come to frontline roles such as farmworkers, delivery drivers, construction workers, sales people, and food processing workers. Care economy jobs, including nursing professionals, social workers, and personal care aides, are also expected to grow significantly. So will roles in the education industry.
But for IT workers, if you're not picking up skills in AI, big data, or software development, you could be left behind. The WEF also forecasts strong job growth for roles in robotics, autonomous systems, and energy generation, with specialists in areas like renewable energy engineering and electric vehicle technologies expected to enjoy greater job security.
The report also references the WEF’s September 2024 Chief Economists Outlook, in which practitioners of the dismal science predicted short-term stability for the world economy, but a worsening trend in the longer term - particularly for developing economies.
